Search

Viewpoint

Insights and opinions from key FIA staff

  • Viewpoint - Playing the long game 

    Let's set aside the specifics of the FTX proposal for a moment and broaden our lens to what is happening. There is a larger trend impacting the financial services community where technology is revolutionizing the infrastructure of our markets, particularly resolving risk management and settlement. 

    CONTINUE READING
  • Viewpoint - Getting margin right

    When derivatives markets become more volatile, everyone agrees that margin requirements must go up. But how much higher? Set margins too high, and trading becomes too expensive. Set margins too low, and traders take too much risk. It's the Goldilocks problem – margin needs to be just right.

    CONTINUE READING
  • Viewpoint – Stronger together at Boca

    After three years away, Boca exceeded my expectations. Nothing was going to dissuade our industry from getting back together in 2022. Last week, FIA welcomed nearly 1,100 delegates to Boca, matching our pre-pandemic numbers for conference attendees. We also saw record sponsorships, thanks to many traditional partners and some first timers who see our industry as strategically attractive. 

    CONTINUE READING
  • Viewpoint – Sending some love to the FCM community  

    FCMs are tremendously important to vibrant and safe cleared derivatives markets, and the global economy as a whole. They connect customers to our markets – particularly commercial end-users and hedgers – to provide liquidity and assist with price discovery.  

    CONTINUE READING
  • Viewpoint – Our heads in the clouds 

    I am struck by the enormous change that seemed to happen under our noses in our capital and risk markets—mostly driven by disruptive technology and the convergence of big tech and Wall Street.

    CONTINUE READING
  • Viewpoint – A new focus on operations and standards 

    FIA has embarked on an initiative to assess the lessons we learned from the March 2020 volatility, and to develop a strategy to improve and modernize our settlement workflow.

    CONTINUE READING
  • Viewpoint – Encouraging innovation in derivatives markets

    Since FIA launched its Innovators Pavilion program in 2015, more than 100 startups have come to the FIA Expo in Chicago and demonstrated their innovations to key people in the derivatives industry.

    CONTINUE READING
  • Viewpoint – Where did the summer go?

    In his latest Viewpoint column, FIA President and CEO Walt Lukken writes that the euro clearing debate, operations and standards and China's futures law are just some of the areas that have kept FIA busy this summer.

    CONTINUE READING
  • Viewpoint – Crypto and climate: A tale of two topics

    While climate change and crypto assets are clearly top of mind, the policy agenda around them remains cloudy. Our markets can play a significant role in both.

    CONTINUE READING
  • Viewpoint – FIA Tech grows up

    10 global clearing firms invested a total of $44 million in FIA Tech to help in the development of the next generation of industry solutions.

    CONTINUE READING